Why Americans care more about experiences than possessions

Leslie Bradshaw, managing parter of Made by Many, describes Americans’ shifting value systems.

“Young people have redefined success, and their new definition values experience over possession. The word “experience” may sound like a code word for “free,” but the change is not necessarily a reaction to underemployment or even a desire to save money.”

His conclusion?

“Our increased aversion to ownership is not a shortcoming, it’s an opportunity. Valuing experiences means we don’t want just one thing; we want a little bit of everything. Businesses launching or adapting to this are smart to do so. While many Americans still choose to invest in buying a home when the time is right in their lives (or when wanting to invest in an appreciating asset), renting, streaming, and experiencing are here to stay in a big way.”